Nyugusk Newblossom's page

When he gets back to Argor’s manor, he does indeed take a break, heading to his room and falling into an exhausted sleep. In the middle of the night he wakes though, again compelled by the knowledge that he’s so close to a major breakthrough. Unable to rest more, he scurries down the hall and back to his lab.

He works well past breakfast and bursts out of his lab late morning, trembling with excitement. Walking into the lounge where folks are resting after their morning pastries, he cries, ”Look at me! Watch this!!” He extends his accordion-arm and then shakes it, and it transforms into a thorny wooden branch, dripping venom. He shakes it again and it’s a tentacle 20’ long covered in suckers. Then he shakes it again and his arm appears to immolate itself in flame.

”Finally, I think--”(gasp)”I think--I’m getting--”(wheeze)”New levels of self perf--”(gasp!) The Transmogrifying Lotus loses all ability to speak, instead succumbing to laughter so manic he occasionally has to gasp and gulp for air. His body continues to have waves of transmogrification ripple over it with unsettling speed, as purple scales come into view and then are replaced by blue-gray fur, and then on to reddish leathery skin, and then an almost gelatinous form.

As he rapidly shifts, he suddenly starts to make sounds of sharp pain. His eyes bulge, then shoot out on eyestalks, and then start to bleed...yet his laughter doesn’t abate in the slightest. Instead, it takes on a wet, gurgling quality until red blood and green serum (staying as separate as oil and water) start to pour and then spurt from Nyugusk’s broad, tusky mouth.

A look of panic takes his face and he starts to shake convulsively. He manages to breathe out, ”He-help me! Something’s very...wrong”

Gianluca gasps with horror. ”He needs a powerful healer. Now!” Nyugusk’s lover drapes the bulky six-limbed pathfinder over his shoulder as best he can. He starts to run for the door, but as he does Nyugusk begins to convulse violently--and then explodes, covering the room (and Gianluca in particular) with a foul ichor.

Compiled from a chat with Argor

Nyugusk looks up from the bubbling alembic he’s focused on and sees Argor standing there, clothes hovering before him.

”Oh, I’m really too busy to...” seeing the look on Argor’s face, he sighs, ”Alright, a quick walk to clear my head.”

As they step out onto the streets of Absolom, he says, ”I'm, uh, sorry about...that”

Argor shrugs it off. ”It’s of no concern. But Gianluca is right. You need to take a step back from the research for a while. Your health is noticeably in decline from being overworked”

Nyugusk shakes his head vehemently. "No no no. I'm getting enough rest, it's OK. And soon...soon I'll get there and I can step back then, maybe. Right now...no, I'm too close!"

Argor persists, "Nyugusk, look at your claws. Even now they are shaking. Deep down you know you are in denial. And what good will you be to yourself, your research, or anyone else, should your body and mind give in due to being overly taxed?"

The Transmogrifying Lotus seems to be considering and then discarding several responses before saying, "Thank you. I can tell your concern is genuine. I appreciate that. I'll be OK though. More than OK. I'm really getting closer--closer to true perfection. Wait until you see..."

Argor pauses and looks up at Nyugusk. "Take flight with me," he says as he begins to hover several feet off the ground.
"OK, one moment, Nyugusk says, quaffing a vial of mutagen, and feeling the power of insectoid wings sprouting from his back. He begins to flap them in a steady buzz and follows Argor into the air.

Argor flies up until the entire city of Absalom lays out before them."Look at that and tell me what you see," he says gesturing to the city below.

Nyugusk cocks his head quizzically. Looking down from their great height, he replies "The largest city in Golarion. Our home. A place where people all too often accept their own limits instead of trying to transcend or transmogrify them."

Argor shakes his head. "I'm going to let you in on a secret. What that is," again nodding to the hustle and bustle below, "IS perfection. Let me explain. What is perfect for one person, creature, city, nation, or world, is the exact opposite of the very definition of that word to another. What you see below are thousands of people trying to achieve their own perfection in their own way, knowingly or not. And in doing so, they are, together, working as a district to the same end, and on an even larger scale, the city as a whole. This is true for every city and nation, in their own ways. For example, you relish in your own mutations, while I, no offense, would find them...unfortunate, had they developed on my person. The importance of trying to achieve perfection is not the actual accomplishment of the fact, but the journey in trying to achieve it."

He pauses for a moment then says, "This is why you shouldn't strain yourself to such extents trying to work your formulas. I am not asking you to forsake your research. You are correct, it is too important. But you need to take a break from them, entirely, for a short while. That way, when you return, you will be rejuvenated, focused, and healthy."

Before Nyugusk can respond, Argor adds, "To help you do so, I am willing to aid you in establishing a private laboratory here on premises, complete with a private staff, so that the burden no longer falls entirely on your shoulders. That way, you can take solace in the fact that even during this, and other, moments of respite, you can take comfort in the fact that work is still underway."

The Transmogrifying Lotus shakes his head. "Each of us has their own path to perfection. I understand that...but Perfection is real. For Irori it led to his ascension to godhood, without the crutch even of the Starstone. My sister was always so good at meditation and martial katas. My father, so disciplined. I...I couldn't hold a candle to them for so long, but since this serum...we've been given a rare and glorious opportunity.”

Argor nods, "I agree. But that opportunity will be wasted if your body and mind fail due to overexertion."

Nyugusk smiles a wide, tusky smile. "You're right of course. I'll take care of myself. I promise. And I...thank you for the offer of the lab. I can contribute my own funds to it as well. It's a good idea."

As their passion is interrupted a second time, Gianluca asks, ”Wow, does Argor try to spoil fun wherever He goes? Or just yours?”

A few minutes later when the pair are sated, Gianluca says a prayer to Arshea and then comes out to the sitting room, a cream-and-purple sarong wrapped around his waste, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Seeing Argor and Imrizade, he nods in greeting. ”I apologize to have startled you two with our passions, but I assure you it was of great importance. Have you seen how his work’s been affecting him recently? The stress, the tremors? I couldn’t even talk him out of his lab to a bedchamber--or that lovely garden of yours we made love in yesterday, under the wisteria--he’s so focused on his experimentations. Surely you see the urgency of bringing a bit of balance into the boy’s life?”

Gianluca’s lip curls into a grin. “Ahh, and sorry about that table, I can cover the cost if you’d like...though all tables should dream they end their useful lives like that!”

. . .

Meanwhile, Nyugusk (not even pausing to dress) gets right back to work in his lab, scribbling madly and muttering about new connections and untapped potential and how could I not have seen it before...

From down the hall come loud sounds of resumed passion.

Behind two desks covered with papers, a table can be seen lying on its side, with broken glass next to it.

As the pathfinders enter, they see Nyugusk lying on the floor behind the toppled table, and Gianluca lying underneath him.

"Huh, wha--" the transmogrified halforc says with a confused look, craning his neck.

Meanwhile, Gianluca lets out a hearty belly laugh, rolls out from under Nyugusk, and stands up (clearly not bothered in the least by having his nakedness exposed), "Hahahahaha, Nyuggy, are your companions not used to you having loud sex? You have got to let loose more often.

“Sorry if we startled you, I guess that table did make quite a bang.” the amethyst-eyed pathfinder chuckles. ”Nyuggy’s always been good in the sack, since back when we were in school together. Now though--how do you keep your hands off this searing hot example of transmogrified manhood you’re living with? Look at those limbs, that mouth, those tusks and pincers.”

Gianluca smiles appreciatively at Nyugusk, and then with a sly grin to the other Freaks he asks, ”Or do you? None of my business of course, and I’m good at sharing. I do serve Arshea, Empyreal Lord of Sexual Abandon after all...and it looks like some of you perhaps don’t find release as often as you could use.” He winks at Cladissa.

As the freaks gather outside the door to Nyugusk's lab, they hear a long moan through the door.

Back with the Master of Scrolls

Nyugusk's eyes start at Master Shane's words. "Little...robots? So tiny as to essentially act as chymicals...and yet...

"Well, I will look over my notes and findings with this theory in mind, and of course share any fruit that it yields. Thank you, Master Crane!"

And with that Nyugusk quickly walks off toward Argor's manor, quivering somewhat, with a driven, manic look in his eye.

The Transmogrifying Lotus stops just as he about to leave. "Really? I'm pleased you've been tackling the problem as well.

"I would be extremely interested to hear your findings and theory."

I leave tomorrow AM to go camping. Back Sunday night.

Odds are I *don't* get a post in before Sun or Mon...but I'll try if possible.

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

At Cladissa's question, Nyugusk shakes his head. "My mind is bursting with experiments to conduct right now. I've really got to get back to my lab at Argor's estate. I still have that new blood sample you gave me, and haven’t really been able to dive into it at all.

“By the way, you’re weathering the serum marvelously. Do you by any chance have a background with transmogrification, changing your form in other ways? I confess I know little about what a Naga Aspirant might be, but you mentioned the druidic arts as well. Do you have the ability to change your own form already? I wonder if that might have conditioned your body to make the serum’s early results less debilitating."

After Sabrina's answer, Nyugusk excuses himself, returning to Argor's estate and throws himself into his experiments with abandon.

Gianluca stays to chat a bit more. To Sabrina, he says, "You're not just weathering the exhaustion that often seems to come from the serum marvelously, it suits you. Mind you, I'm quite happy with my body just the way it is...but you do make it look tempting.

"As do you of course, Clarissa."

Smiling gently at the stressed out witch, he adds, "Nyugusk told me a bit about your ordeal. I'm very sorry. If you'd like an escort for your trip back to Jabberwocky Lane, I'd be happy to oblige.

"I can see you're stressed. Of course you are. I know incidents like that can leave their marks on you on the inside, even when one looks just the same on the outside. Sometimes I wonder if it would be kinder on us if those emotional wounds were somehow visible for the world to see and understand."

Gianluca will escort Cladissa if requested. Otherwise he'll head back to the Inn he's staying at. BTW, I don't think Gianluca knows about Cladissa's true transformation yet.

As soon as he's set the syringe down, Nyugusk takes up a sheath of parchment and starts to scribble notes on the timing and details of Sabrina's transformation.

When she expresses disappointment, Nyugusk chuckles. "Give it time...and make sure you're working with the serum. I believe we can productively guide it...but we stunt its effect when we resist it. At any rate, when I first received it I didn't have so many legs, nor did my arm transform like this--"He flexes and extends his multisegmented arm, reaching clear around the room"--so I think it's safe to say that you'll continue to transmogrify as well.

"Assuming you live, of course. Not that the serum seems likely to kill you. I mean, it killed Cyril, but we've learned so much about it since then. I theorized that taking the serum while under the effect of my mutagen would enable the two sources of transformation to co-exist, and it has. Not only that, but I've been making great strides forward by compounding the essence of my blood, Cladissa's blood, and various mutagen formulae in a custom alembic I've devised. I think it's safe to say you'll see new height of transmogrification coming from me soon...and I hope to stabilize it in a way that can be of use to the rest of you as well."

Gianluca's laughs a low, warm belly laugh. "Now that's why it's good to have 'Ssssabs' around. I wouldn't choose it myself--I like my body just fine as it is--but you are eminently suited for this project."

Nyugusk nods, and scratches his chitinous chin. "Fascinating conjecture. It makes me want to try reincarnating Freaks from samples taken both before and after injection. There's so much to learn. Why, perhaps if we--"

The Master of Scrolls clears his throat.

Doctor Newblossom stops mid-train and says, "Ah yes, of course. Are you ready then?" He picks up a syringe and adds, "While the effect seems to be quite individualized, one constant has been a good deal of pain at first."

When Sabrina signals she's ready, the Transmogrifying Lotus motions for her to hold out her arm and carefully guides the syringe into her.

Nyugusk looks at Sabrina seriously. "Well, you clearly know the broad strokes of what you're getting into. And you volunteered, yes?

"Are you ready to take on this journey?"

As they walk to the Lodge, Nyugusk's childhood friend (and fellow Pathfinder) Gianluca joins the group. He's a tall, slim fellow with Chelaxian features but whose amethyst eyes suggest an aasimar heritage. He is dressed in a flowing tunic of cream and deep purple, but a breastplate is visible under his loose clothing.

Gianluca smiles at Cladissa and then steps up alongside Argor and introduces himself. "A master of the arcane arts, eh? Good to meet you Argor. Nyugusk has told me about you, and how you two are collaborating on experiments to isolate and purify the serum out of your own blood."

--------

When they enter the lab, Nyugusk walks in and nods at the elven master. "Master Shane, good to see you. Who is the new recruit?"

When Master Shane nods in Sabrina's direction, the Transmogrifying Lotus smiles, and extends his too-many-jointed accordion-arm in greeting (offering to shake her hand with his own pincer). "You...have we met somewhere before?"

Gianluca meanwhile starts with surprise, "Sabrina! Hahahahaha, I should've known you were the new freak-to-be. Well, to be honest, you're already a bit of a freak, eh? But it seems you'll be taking that to a new level. Bravo!"

When Nyugusk looks between the two with confusion, Gianluca's amethyst eyes sparkle and he says, "I told you I just got back from a mission in Jalmeray? Sabrina was key to our success, unlocking the secrets of Ssssthetin-Essp-Ymrisss from the tomes we found there."

Cladissa's smile is laced with sympathy and a touch of worry. "Well, I'm glad that's all it is. Maybe you can try slowing down a bit; Irori didn't achieve perfection in a day. I think. I hope, if I'm to be persuasive here."

She forces a pained smile, and then inspiration hits to change the subject. "How was your visit with Gianluca? Did he stay long? I-- he was... nice."

Nyugusk gives a genuine grin. "Oh, I'm glad you liked him! Just before we got our orders to stop Celeena, he said he was being sent to Osirion next...but I don't think he leaves for another few weeks. I bet you'll see more of him."

When Nyugusk gets the note from the Lodge

Nyugusk arches an eyebrow. He turns to Gianluca and says, "By all means, come along. I haven't actually gotten to administer it myself before."

The Transmogrifying Lotus swigs a brew of the experimental compound mutagen he's been working on and then goes enters the main hall (followed by Gianluca), hollering, "Hey, big news: We're getting a new freak! I'm heading down to the Lodge in a few minutes to give them the serum."

I'll assume this happens at a time when most/all of us are around, since it's got the potential to be a big RP scene.

Gameplay post coming today! Hopefully on the sooner side...we'll see.

The Transmogrifying Lotus tries to smile but it ends up as more of a wince. "Thank you. I'm fine. Since that encounter with the swarming crabs I've had a few bouts dizziness, a few tremors. Nothing serious, I'm sure. Nothing applied chymistry can't handle.

"I've been experimenting with reintroducing the purified serum I've extracted from my own and your blood, mixed with the essential humors of various beasts, using my own mutagen formula to activate and bind the disparate components together. I suspect I'm on the cusp of a giant step closer to Self-Perfection!"

I guess that was the extract I gulped in this post. ;-) (I do have it prepared).

Nyugusk stands there, looking back and forth between Cladissa and Argor as they silently shoot daggers out of their eyes at one another.

Nyugusk stays to the back, between Celeena and the rest of the freaks, and ready to snake out with his accordion-arm in case she tries something.

Before going outside he says, "You can trust us to our word. We need the papers before you go back up top though. I know you're a powerful caster and don't want to see you teleporting away with them. Then you'll be free, as Cladissa promised."

Huk Huk appreciates that sentiment. Some people never seem to treat him with the respect he deserves.

Nyugusk does his best to keep focused during the negotiation but suddenly feels his heart start to beat faster. His vision starts to double again and he stumbles...but having four pincered legs comes in handy and he catches himself before he hits the floor.

Heart still pounding, he pops the lid off of a vial and (arm shaking) chugs it down. As he does so, he glances defensively at his companions.

::Sorry. I'm fine::

"But Celeena is beyond that door?" the transmogrified halforc asks, scratching at a place where a few odd feathers shoot out between bluish scales.

Hey CDL! Current mechanical composition:

- Thron: Argor, human arcanist (summoning focus)
- Stalwart: Cladissa, human witch (broad focus)
- Jubal: Hrimnagel, svirfniblin inquisitor of Count Ranalc (archery + scouting)
- Gyrfalcon: Nyugusk, halforc (beastmaster, vivisectionist) alchemist (melee frontline / reach / grapple focus)
- Oterisk: Mettera, human fighter (going on leave, possibly returning)

All of the above can fly except for Mettera.

EDIT: ninja'd by the witch. I'll leave this since there's more detail.

Around on r20 if anyone's nearby.

Hearing an angry shout and the crash of a weapon hitting the wall, Nyugusk nods to Meterra and says, "Sounds like our cue," and then starts to hustle down the stairs behind Argor.

Assuming we all buffed just in case. Nyug will let Argor's round 2 spell resolve before attacking.

Nyugusk nods. "That makes sense."

As Cladissa goes about her preparations, the Transmogrifying Lotus swigs several extracts in a row. As he does, his eyes take on a frosted appearance, his arms grow longer, and he starts to twitch a bit.

Finally he closes his eyes for a moment, attempting to still his mind. I am the Transmogrifying Lotus. A self-perfecting swirl of chymicals rushes through my veins, clarifying my humors. My heart will be still in the face of any supernatural threats. I am the Transmogrifying Lotus.

drinking: See Invisibility, Long Arm, Channel Vigor. If it looks like there's room to Enlarge I'll do that too...but from the map I'm guessing it'd be cramped. When Hrim is back to himself, if he reports that there's space, he'll drink Enlarge Person just as he enters.

Nyugusk shakes his head at the odd turn of events. What else has happened to our Cladissa?

When the man asks for an autograph, he shrugs and retrieves a quill from his pack, signing "Nyugusk Newblossom, the Transmogrifying Lotus". After that he ties the man up.

Nyugusk flaps his insectoid wings in anticipation.

Extending his accordion-arm, he says, "Mettera, why don't I just hold onto you while we pull them?"

Nyugusk smiles as he sees the devil struggling.

He calls out, "Cladissa, it seems this hell-spawn is all befuddled up thanks to your enchantments!"--and then shifts to the left in order to trap the devil between himself and Mattera as he continues to try to rend and crush it.

Getting sneak attack now that I'm flanking. DR included in totals. Pretty sure that crushes this devil to paste.

Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 29 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 4d6 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 + 1 + (2, 1, 4, 2) - 5 = 17
Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 34 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 4d6 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 + 1 + (3, 6, 1, 1) - 5 = 22
Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 21 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 4d6 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 + 1 + (1, 4, 3, 5) - 5 = 22
Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 37 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 4d6 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 + 1 + (1, 3, 3, 1) - 5 = 18

Nyugusk steps forward, letting his too-many-jointed left arm unfold and grasp the nearest devil in his pincers. He reels the devil in and mauls him with his other three pincered limbs.

With a look of consternation, he realizes that his pincers aren't having nearly the effect he'd expect them to. Hrumph! Well, at least it's doing something...

_______________

Full attack. Currently grappling the nearer devil. 40 damage dealt after DR. Narrowly averted being OPCPCed by Argor. ;-)

Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 26 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 13grab: 1d20 + 19 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 19 + 2 + 1 = 39
Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 23 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 15
Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 33 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 16
Claw (mutagen, good hope, magic fang): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 20 Damage: 1d4 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 16

Hoped to get a post in this AM. Didn't quite make it. Hopefully later. If not, I just take a step in (already done on roll20) and attack.

Sorry for the delay (and do feel free to DMPC, OPCPC*) in my travels.

*Other PC PC

Nyugusk--still not used to Cladissa's telepathy--nods.

He chugs a mutagen that smells of urine, musk, and vanilla custard. As usual, he grows wings, flippers, bulging muscles, and a piglike nose. Wiping his lips on his sleeve of many garments, he says "I'm ready."

::As long as I don't have another dizzy spell::

::Crap! Did you hear that, Cladissa? It's fine. Really::

The Transmogrifying Lotus looks at Cladissa nervously.

Hey gang. I'm traveling this week, then home for a week...and then traveling June 4 to July 2.

I'll be able to post intermittently, but please forgive any gaps and don't hesitate to bot me. RP posts in particular may be slower right now.

Nyug pays attention to Dreng at first, but then pulls out a sheath of papers and begins scribbling in the back of the room as the others talk to the venture captain writing alchemical formulae, scratching them out, and then writing more. "Yes yes, very important mission, of course...it's just that I was right in the middle of an experiment and, well, you have to understand that fresh chimera bile only lasts for so long and it's quite difficult to come by and...anyway, what's done is done. Let's get off to find these papers then."

As they get within a minute of the designated house, the Transmogrifying Lotus uses two of his alchemical allocation extracts, together with his potion of Greater Magic Fang and Barkskin. He'll await outside while Hrim scouts, ready to drink his mutagen if there appears to be a need to go inside.

Alchemical Allocation for Greater Magic Fang (CL5, +1 to all limbs) and Barkskin (CL12, +5 to Nat Armor), and will drink his mutagen just before entering, if Hrim find anything interesting.

In the morning, when Cladissa is rested, Nyugusk approaches her, not quite sure what to say. "How are you? Does it, uh, hurt?" Clearly frustrated with himself, he continues, "Dammit, how did we let this happen? I should've been more alert, I should've see through the note, should've searched for you!

"I'm...I'm really very sorry."

After a long sigh, he ventures back more into his own comfort zone. "Thank you for giving me a blood sample, by the way. It is interesting. I'm not one hundred percent sure but it seems that the serum isn't just changing us...it seems we may in fact be changing the serum too. Fascinating, really.

"I, uh...you may not be ready to talk about all of this. Let me know when you are though. And, uh, let me know if you'd like to give another sample. When you're feeling better. It would be interesting to see if your two samples are different somehow."

When he'd first arrived, shortly behind Hrimnagel (and smelling heavily of chemicals) the Transmogrifying Lotus just stood there, mouth agape.

"Cladissa...that's really you? Then that note--we were deceived, weren't we?! Dammit another failure." Shaking a pincered 'fist' at the heavens, Nyugusk laments, "Irori, is everything I do a failure? We didn't discover that our home had been breached by demons. We failed to suspect the note was a fake...I'm so sorry..." Nyugusk begins to sob, his voice thick with sorrow and self-reproach.

When Cladissa asked for Cole, Nyugusk nodded dumbly. He raced back to the manor and found the cat nervously pacing Cladissa's chamber. Nyug tried to coax Cole into his arms, but Cladissa's familiar kept his distance. The cat seems so distraught! Perhaps the presence of another familiar would help Cole feel at ease? I could hack up Huk Huk! He coughs until the bruise-colored cross between an armodillo and a flesh golem comes crawling out of his throat. "Huk Huk, can you let Cole know it's OK? That we're taking him to Cladissa?"

The cat's back archs and his hair stands on end as Huk Huk crawls toward him, looking even more wary than before. Finally in exasperation, Nyugusk manages to grab the cat with his accordion-arm, and carries it back cradled snugly in his arms, while Huk Huk sits atop his shoulder (seeming to enjoy the breeze and the smells of the city as they race back across Absolom).

When he enters the room with the others, Nyug loosens his grip and lets Cole go free. "There you go!"

Nyugusk sees Cladissa's note and thinks to himself, Well, it was thoughtful of her to give her blood for my experiments before she took off. I hope she has a great break.

He arrives at Argor's a bit early that day, eager to begin their experiments. He's relieved to not suffer any more episodes on the way over. Perhaps Argor was right to suggest I rest--and what good fortune to have Gianluca back in town. I wonder how long before he's off on another mission of his own?

"Cladissa gave us a good sample of her blood. If I may, I'll start the process of isolating the serum from it. I've gotten a bit better at it over the last few weeks, at least with my blood, but it's still quite time consuming. Hopefully there are no hiccups; I'm excited to see what's different in this case.

"By the way, I trust you've reviewed my papers. Any thoughts?"

I'm fine to move forward too. Any of this could always happen in spoiler/flashbacks at any rate...or we can just handwave that the refining of the serum from the blood takes weeks.

Gianluca nods to Ms. Fecht as she pours. "Thank you. Oh, and can I see the label? Ahhh, a Galteaux Cramoisi, eh? You know how to treat a guest, I'm in your debt!" He focuses intently on the glass as he swirls the wine around and then breathes in the bouquet. Taking his time, he enjoys his first sip, and then another. "Remarkable."

He again meets Cladissa's gaze as the wine wets his lips--clearly enjoying Cladissa's reaction to his attention--and appears completely at ease in the conversation. "A long story, eh? Well by all means, if you don't mind?" He leans over to pour her another glass.

Before Cladissa can answer, Nyugusk comes scuttling in, wrapped in a bathrobe and still distractedly drying his wiry white mane with a towel. "Gianluca! What are you doing here?!", the alchemist exclaims.

Gianluca's eyes go wide and his jaw drops, as he slowly recognizes and makes sense of his friend's face in a thoroughly transformed body. "Nyuggy...?!?

"You...um...wow! Come here and give me a hug!" The tall, lanky visitor leaps across the room to squeeze the Transmogrifying Lotus tightly. Laughing, he says, "Now what the f&#k have you done to yourself? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's marvelous," Gianluca says, looking Nyug up and down, "What a piece of manhood you've grown into...but you still better start explaining. This looks to be quite the tale!"

Nyugusk seems (at least for the moment) genuinely happy, perhaps even a bit relaxed for the first time in weeks. Together they walk off toward the Transmogrifying Lotus's chamber, laughing and interrupting one another with questions and exclamations. As they leave, Gianluca turns back to Cladissa, briefly, saying, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Cladissa. I look forward to more."

Hehehehehe. I've been there--more than once, in this campaign.

Feel free to inject yourself into this scene btw, if you want to say you're there.

I'm about to post in a bit.

Gianluca accepts Cladissa's hand and kisses it with a warm, easy smile. "Enchanted."

Then when he hears Hrimnagel's thin voice his eyes go wide. Gianluca squints his amethyst eyes to see the shadow-gnome and breaks into a deep, surprised laugh. "Whoa ho ho ho ho! I didn't see you there. Well met!"

Looking Cladissa in the eyes, he says, "And yes, it would be my pleasure to satisfy you.

"Ahhh, and of course he hasn't gone by Nyuggy for years, he'll kill me for that." he grins. "Our secret?"

"By the way, I can't help but notice your wings. In fact, do both of you have them?" Gianluca squints into the shadows where Hrimnagel is standing. "Do you two have celestial heritage too, then?"

As the freaks converse, there's a loud rapping on the front door. Mrs. Fecht answers it and (after a few moments) escorts in a tall, slim fellow with Chelaxian features, but whose amethyst eyes suggest an aasimar heritage. He is dressed in a flowing tunic of cream and deep purple, but a breastplate is visible under his loose clothing.

"Why hello there," he smiles and extends his hand. "Gianluca, servant of Arshea. I've been on assignment in Jalmeray for just over a year, just back yesterday. I asked at the Lodge and they said Nyugusk lives here now.”

Gesturing to Mrs Fecht, he adds, ”Your butler says he’s taking a bath after a long day. Last we saw one another, he mostly just did research for the society, but I gather they have him doing field work now. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Nyuggy for ages. Do you mind if I make myself comfortable here while I wait?"

Taking a bite of a flaky cheese pastry from a platter that Mr Goodpies brings out he says, "Mmmmm, delicious. The food in Jalmeray is wonderful, but not like home and one always misses familiar tastes, eh? Speaking of which, do you have any wine? And if you'd be so good as to satisfy my curiosity while I wait, whatever got Nyuggy to leave his lab behind and start taking on fieldwork?”

Blushing, the Transmogrifying Lotus nods. "Yes, of course. Do give my papers a read though, please. There's...I'm very close, I know I am!"

At Argor's departure, Nyugusk heads up to bathe the sweat, saltwater, and crab flesh from his body. He stops once to lean on a side table as he walks.

To the imp, Nyugusk nods. "Yes yes. Banter, very well. Please come back quickly with the fluids though. And carefully, it's not recoverable."

To Argor, "Yes, Cyrill's fate was unfortunate, but I've looked over the catalog of his remains as well as the notes he turned in to the lodge about his experimentations, and of course your own notes on the event. His ideas were extremely...rough, unsubtle. I'm quite confident that I understand and have accounted for his errors. Just to begin, if you'll remember, I took the serum while under the influence of my own mutagen. That was a lesson I learned from his fate. I believe the serum has done far better at coexisting with the mutagen in my system due to that one change alone. Still..." He pauses. "...I've improved my craft so rapidly over the past few months, a new examination of his remains could lead to interesting discoveries. Or cautions, of course...but really, in the hands of a skilled alchymical transmogrifist I don't think there's any serious cause for concern.

"Hold on one moment."

Nyugusk turns to focus on a beaker that has reached its boiling point. His accordion-arm unfolds to a shelf across the chamber, grabs a metallic-looking powder, and pours it in--or attempts to. At just the wrong moment, his vision again blurs and the alchemist finds himself collapsing onto the table with a loud thwack!, spilling and breaking several vials in the process.

Frustration and shame battle on his face as he says, "Ignore that," and quickly drinks down two potions in succession. In as natural a tone as he can manage, he says, "I'm fine. Shall we start extracting and refining your own blood while we wait for Rutai? Or would you rather read over my papers first?"

Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

”Hmmm. Perhaps you can send Rutai to fetch it then? Hold on, I have to add this belladona soon or else this batch will spoil. Four...three...two...OK. Good.”

Nuyusk steps back and squats (folding four legs beneath him) and then looks Argor in the eye. “As to my condition...I may as well be honest. Something wasn’t right back there. I’m sure you noticed how difficult a time I had with those crabs. Even the large ones. I’ve been finding my vision going double at awkward times recently. Not just in the cave, it...it happened again when I was at the lodge. I’m sure it’s nothing that applied chymistry can’t overcome though, so lets get to work.”

He points to a vial containing a couple ounces of greenish fluid. "This here is some of my resynthesized serum, purified from my own blood. I think I'm making progress on it. At any rate, the color's getting much closer to the original...but I'm afraid that it's still quite unstable.

"I was making such rapid progress for a few weeks there--as you can see from my new ability to grow wings and fins--but I confess I've hit a wall recently. According to my calculations, this should enable even more transformative transmogrifications." Nyugusk hands the arcanist a stack of papers to read over. "I'm not sure why this wouldn't work, but perhaps there's a postulate off here. I'm extrapolating as much as I can from the data I have, but I think I need more. That Numerian fluid perhaps? Or your own blood, and the blood of our comrades?

“I mentioned earlier today while we were on business, but I can’t help wondering...are the changes I see in my refined serum due to errors in my own calculations--I can’t discount the possibility, of course--or due to something more significant, like perhaps our own unique humors altering the serum itself within us."

Nyug scuttles back to the townhouse as fast as his four legs will allow, considering and then discarding ideas for his next experiments the entire way.

Back in his lab, he begins scratching equations on slate, and then starts a chymical fire to power his experiments. He's just about to crumble some atropa belladonna into the beaker, he hears Argor outside his door.

"Ahh, what? Oh yes, come in. Did you bring that Numerian fluid that you collected from the Silvermount collection?"

Argor's around live on roll20 now so going to RP a bit. Cladissa (or anyone else coming to find Nyug) feel free to just arrive at any point during this.

As they walk back through the streets of Absolom, Nyugusk stops twice to heave onto the paving stones and shudder.

When they arrive at the lodge, the captain informs them that Cladissa is in a sitting room down the open hall. "Argor, you can continue your report. I'll get her."

At first Nyugusk feels fine but when he snakes out his accordion-arm to open the door, suddenly, once again, his vision doubles and he misses the large brass handle; instead he scrapes his pincer clumsily across the old oak door before finally finding purchase. He looks down in the hopes that noone saw or heard his clumsiness, takes two slow breaths to calm the blur in his eyes, and then finally manages to open the door.

As he mumbles to Cladissa that they've returned and walks back to the captain's desk, his mind is racing. This is terrible. Unacceptable. What's happening to me?! I fear my self-experimentation is starting to--No! This may be change, but change is nothing for the Transmogrifying Lotus to fear. No, I'll embrace it. I'll--Suddenly the report to the venture captain feels interminable--I have to get back to my lab. Continue my investigation in refining the essence of the serum in and from my own bodily humors. I will not fear change, I will embrace it. Now though!

He starts to sweat and twitch as might a caged animal. Interrupting, he says. "Excuse me, captain. Companions. I...I have to go right away."

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Nyug steels himself and bursts out of the swarm again. Am I getting better at keeping crabs out of my nose and mouth? I guess the Transmogrifying Lotus should adapt to all things...but this one wasn't high on the list.

He runs over to the last crab, smashes it, and licks the pulp off of his own pincer. "Serves ya right, ya pest!

"Mettera, may the Master of Masters guide your hand. I don't know how you're so effective against that swarm--and so resilient to it--but I want to study at your feet when this is over!"

___________________

Attack crab that I'm flanking with Mettera.
Free action for +5 fast healing (used 4/6 rounds),
brings HP to 19-7+5=17/52 HP

Claw+GMF+flank: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 19Damage+GMF+sneak: 1d4 + 6 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + (2, 6, 3, 2) = 21

Ahhh, good point! HP: 52-38+5=19 (3/6 uses of fast healing left today)

Nyugusk comes to enough to realize he's been badly injured by the little crabs, a thousand tiny cuts and bruises adding up all over him. He lets his healing sweat begin to flow from his pits, but still has a way to go.

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Nyug somehow manages to overcome the sheer disgust of the crab swarm and he starts to run.

For a moment a wild panic overtakes his face and it looks like he's going to bolt straight outside. Then--No! I am better than this. I am the Transmogrifying Lotus.--he veers back over toward the large crabs and attempts to smash another.

Attack crab that I'm flanking with Mettera.

Claw+GMF+flank: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 19Damage+GMF+sneak: 1d4 + 6 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + (2, 3, 2, 3) = 19